The phrase rains down like a torrent from balconies, rings out of store fronts like a dinner bell and is thrown from car windows with more gusto than a used McDonald’s wrapper:

“You’re welcome, welcome!!”

It must be the national motto of Palestine or perhaps just the phrase of the week. . . for the umpteenth week in a row.

No matter where we go, or what neighborhood we’re in, no matter whose car we get into, or where we’re going, the greeting is always the same.

“You’re welcome, welcome!!”

If the speaker paid attention in English class, sometimes this greeting is complemented with, “Welcome to Palestine!” If he has seen a few too many American movies, the phrase can end in any number of grammatically, or contextually, inappropriate ways.

But the “Welcome” is always there. And, it is always sincere.

At first, it can be a bit off-putting. When a group of young teenage males come running at you across the street, you do not immediately expect the encounter to culminate in an exchange of smiles and handshakes. Certainly not if you went to school in Boston, or grew up in New York.

Born and raised in the American Midwest, friendly greetings are, to me, as common as cheese-topped casseroles. Educated and enlightened in New Orleans, sweet homely welcomes have a place in my heart right next to king cake and beignets.

Even so, I’ve traveled enough to expect that any shopkeeper who persistently beckons me over is looking only to make a sale. When I finally give into such summons, and am inevitably presented with a small sweet, it is honestly startling that instead of peddling me goods he simply insists, “You’re welcome, welcome!!”

There are a lot of misconceptions about this part of the world. A lot of misgivings, misinterpretations, and missed opportunities for understanding. Some would probably even go so far as to say that the Middle East is just plain backwards.

On Saturday, March 19, 2011, Tomorrow’s Youth Organization hosted the first of five civic engagement workshops for the volunteer participants in our collaboration with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). Dr. Alia Asali, manager of the Education Department at An-Najah University, led the workshop, which highlighted the status of literacy in Palestine. She noted that while literacy rates in Palestine are high compared to other Arab countries, the last two decades have seen a decline, especially among the younger generations. At An Najah University in Nablus, she witnesses the effects of this decline first hand. She said that many students’ abilities do not reflect their grade level through middle school and high school, resulting in a number of university students that only possess basic reading and writing skills.

The discussion during the workshop focused on how innovative community programming, such as the TYO-MEPI collaboration, can help children, youth and mothers rediscover a love for learning and reading. Fostering this appreciation allows the community to focus on meeting each child’s needs by involving them in an active learning process.